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DDaT27539 Software package

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

22 Oct 2026 at 15:59

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) bought a software package, classified as software and information systems, for use in its work. UK Shared Business Services Ltd managed the procurement on UKRI’s behalf. The package was supplied by EKKOSENSE Ltd, a software company based in Lincoln. The delivery location is recorded as the United Kingdom, with no more specific place identified. The stated requirement is simply for a software package; the procurement does not describe its functions, technical specification, users or intended application. This is a single-lot purchase of goods, rather than a services or works contract. The supplier selected was a small or medium-sized enterprise, showing that a smaller specialist supplier was capable of meeting this particular requirement.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to EKKOSENSE Ltd. UKRI used a direct award without competition, below the applicable threshold, on the stated ground that technical reasons left only one supplier able to provide the required goods and no reasonable alternative. The contract was signed on 21 October 2026 and runs from 1 January 2027 to 3 January 2030. Its value is £19,291 excluding VAT and £23,149.20 including VAT. The purchase was handled as one lot. No award date or separate evaluation criteria are recorded; the stated basis for proceeding without competition was the lack of an alternative supplier for technical reasons.

For suppliers seeking to compete for similar UKRI software requirements in future, this award shows a small-scale purchase of a software package, managed through UK Shared Business Services Ltd. The route used here was a direct award, justified by the buyer’s view that only one supplier could provide the goods for technical reasons and that no reasonable alternative existed. A credible competitor would therefore need to demonstrate that its software meets the specific requirement and that it is a genuine alternative to any incumbent or proprietary solution. The published requirement does not identify product features, integration needs, technical standards, accreditations or capacity requirements, so the award alone cannot indicate which capabilities UKRI would require in a different software purchase. The selected supplier was an SME.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DDaT27539 Software package

Notice Description

****THIS IS A CONTRACT DETAILS NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION**** This procurement is being concluded without competition due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods required and there are no reasonable alternative to those goods. Brief Description of Requirement Software package

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078e37
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100129-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£19,291 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 3 Jan 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

EkkoSense Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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